Hutt St Centre move suggested as Dr Aileen Jefferis calls for more support after son’s arrest

THE mother of a man arrested over a violent Hutt St incident has pleaded for more support for addicts and their families. As safety concerns grow, the Hutt St Centre is considering a big move.

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THE mother of a man arrested over a violent confrontation with a Hutt Street cafe owner says her son is not entirely “blameless” for his actions but there are not enough services for those dealing with drug and alcohol addiction.

And those behind the Hutt Street Centre — which has faced claims its clients are the cause of escalating violence and anti-social behaviour in the precinct — could relocate the facility for shelter and assistance to the homeless as a result of the recent outcry against violence in the area.

Dr Aileen Jefferis, says her son Trent, 34, of Gilles Plains will likely end up in prison after he was one of three men charged with violent disorder over an altercation at Bici Espresso on April 4, which was captured on CCTV, and was a factor in the cafe’s decision to close amid concerns of rising violence and disorder on the retail strip.

Aileen Jefferis says there will always be issues with facilities like the Hutt St Centre but that more support is needed.

She said her son, who was filmed drinking from customers’ water bottles outside the cafe, admitted what he had done was “extremely foolish”.

“He had taken medication to stop him drinking and admits that foolishly he drank on top of that; there are no excuses but there were circumstances, shall we say,” she said.

Dr Jefferis, a former South Australian of the Year nominee for her work in helping the homeless and who runs charity Our Street Family Matters, said her son was born with a brain injury which — compounded with ongoing drug and alcohol abuse — has meant his “neurological conditions” have deteriorated.

“I’m not saying he is blameless, but the very nature of his brain injuries he lacks insight and impulse control and has poor understanding of consequences; there are causative and contributing factors,” the physiotherapist said.

Dr Jefferis said the Hutt Street Centre has banned Trent for a year after a previously publicised confrontation between her son and another man known to him in the foyer of the Adelaide Travellers Inn Backpackers Hostel.

He was also captured on CCTV of an IGA supermarket attempting to steal bananas.

Dr Jefferis said her son had been a client of the Hutt Street Centre for 17 years and was recently receiving treatment at the centre after he was stabbed with a broken bottle in the carpark of the neighbouring St Andrews Medical Centre carpark.

“This (banning) was a very visible attempt by (chief executive) Ian Cox, I’m sure, to show to the businesses and the community that he was making a stance against the issues of disorder and violence or whatever,” she said.

Dr Jefferis did not blame the Hutt St Centre for the area’s problems.

“You can put the Hutt Street Centre in Outer Mongolia and there are still going to be problems,” she said.

“There are fundamental societal issues that are contributing (to the problem); we do not have adequate drug and alcohol or mental health services for the disenfranchised and we do not have enough affordable housing.

“We need to look at the bigger picture — the victims of the lack of services.”

Hutt St Centre chair Phil Donato OAM today released a statement saying the option of relocating the facility, in light of the backlash it was experiencing from traders along Hutt St, was discussed at a board meeting on Sunday.

The Hutt Street Centre could move from its current location. Picture: Brenton Edwards

During the state election campaign the board of the Hutt Street Centre said it had plans for a $20 million redevelopment of the ageing facility, but Mr Donato said the organisation — which was founded in 1954 — could relocate somewhere else.

“The Hutt St Centre Board is currently exploring all options that include the rebuilding or relocation of the Centre,” he said.

“The Hutt St Centre is working closely with the Department of Human Services

as part of this process, which includes researching the world’s best practice in service design and delivery.

“A decision on any rebuild or relocation will be announced in due course.”

In a letter sent to the Advertiser, Adelaide City Councillor Anne Moran — one of the more outspoken politicians when it comes to Hutt St — said a serious conversation had to be had about whether the current location of the centre was able to cater for its demand.

“No one is suggesting that the Hutt Street Centre is not a worthy organisation or the people who volunteer or work there are not wonderful but the fact is that the centre has become a magnet for anti-social behaviour fuelled by the drug ice,” she wrote.

“Personally I think the centre has outgrown its location and deserves a much larger facility separated from businesses and residents so every can live in peace, perhaps the old RAH site would a temporary solution.”

Trent has been released on bail and has been banned by the court from frequenting Hutt St and Hutt Rd, a Centre spokesman said they could not comment on his circumstances due to privacy.